Chapter 382: A Narrow Encounter

The moonlight at the alley entrance was hazy.

Two silhouettes blocked the road like iron towers.

At the moment Li Ping'an's steps halted, they saw the opponent's attire clearly.

It was a Type 65 military uniform, bleached from washing, yet the shoulder lines were crisp.

Liberation shoes, the uppers worn to a fuzzy sheen, yet stood steady as a rock.

A soldier.

And a veteran.

The two stood one in front of the other, sealing both ends of the alley.

The front one, square‑faced, had thick eyebrows like ink and eyes sharp as an eagle.

The one behind was slightly younger, a shallow scar across the cheek, his right hand hovering over the waist—where a bulge indicated either a gun or a knife.

Li Ping'an felt a weight settle in their mind.

Not a Shopkeeper.

From Zhou Zhengwei's side?

No.

If sent by Zhou Zhengwei, they should have recognized him.

But in these two's eyes was only scrutiny and vigilance, their gaze at him like that of a thief.

The square‑faced man spoke, his voice low and hoarse, with a northern accent.

"Comrade, in the dead of night, dressing like that to take a stroll?"

The words were courteous, but the tone was as cold and hard as iron.

Li Ping'an gave no answer.

Under the mask, their lips were tightly pressed.

They were quickly assessing the situation.

Force a way in?

With their skill, the Carefree Step could be unleashed at full power; these two might not be able to stop it.

But once they acted, the commotion would be great.

Moreover, the opponents were soldiers, likely armed with guns.

If they harmed their own, it would be truly indefensible.

Run?

Both ends of the alley were blocked, and high walls rose on either side.

Unless they could scale eaves and walls…

Wait, they actually can.

Li Ping'an's peripheral vision flicked to the left wall top.

Blue bricks and gray tiles, the wall stood over three meters high.

With their lightness skill, two leaps would let them vault over.

The question was whether the opponents would fire as they scaled the wall.

"Asking you a question," the scar‑faced man stepped forward, his right hand already reaching the waist, "Take off the mask and reveal your identity."

Li Ping'an slowly raised both hands, indicating no hostility.

The movement was slow and steady.

"Comrades," he began, his voice deliberately lowered, sounding hoarse, "a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding?" the square‑faced man sneered, "In the dead of night, wearing a Night Cloak, skulking from the direction of the officials' compound. You call that a misunderstanding?"

They were indeed watching the Shopkeeper.

Li Ping'an understood in their heart.

It seemed Zhou Zhengwei's actions were faster than they had thought.

He had already sent someone to keep an eye on the Shopkeeper's residence.

Only hadn't expected to run into them here.

"I…" Li Ping'an's mind rushed, "I am from the street security joint patrol team, night patrol, catching thieves."

Saying that, they didn't even believe it themselves.

Sure enough, the scar‑faced man snorted.

"Joint patrol team? With that outfit? Fooling ghosts!"

His right hand twitched, a military bayonet already gripped in his hand.

The three‑edged blood groove glimmered coldly in the moonlight.

Li Ping'an's gaze hardened.

It was a Type 56 bayonet.

Only a veteran who had seen battle would own such a weapon.

"One last time," the square‑faced man's voice also turned cold, "Take off the mask, or don't blame us for being impolite."

The two, one ahead of the other, slowly closed in.

Their steps were steady, breaths synchronized.

Clearly they were seasoned partners with tacit coordination.

Li Ping'an knew they could not delay any longer.

They took a deep breath.

His feet twitched slightly, and his body suddenly tilted to the left.

"Attack!" Guo Zi Lian barked low.

Ba Lian Hanzi's spear thrust shot out like a Poison Snake.

It aimed straight for Li Ping'an's right shoulder.

The speed was extreme, the angle cunning.

He intended to disarm him, leaving a way out.

What a ruthless move.

Li Ping'an, however, seemed to have anticipated it; his tilted body abruptly halted.

The spear thrust brushed his clothing edge and passed.

At the same time, Guo Zi Lian's fist had reached his face.

The fist's wind whistled, carrying battlefield‑honed killing intent.

Li Ping'an neither dodged nor evaded; his left hand slipped out like a lithe snake and gave the fist a light flick.

Tai Chi "Lan Quei Wei".

Guo Zi Lian felt his fist slip, the force diverted, and he staggered half a step.

He was greatly startled.

He used seventy percent of his strength for that punch; an ordinary person would have his nasal bridge shattered.

Yet the opponent brushed it off lightly.

"A master!" Ba Lian Hanzi also realized, twisted his spear thrust, turning it into a slash that swept across Li Ping'an's waist and abdomen.

Li Ping'an, however, used that flick's force to launch his body into the air.

His toe touched a point on the wall.

A shallow mark was left on the blue‑brick wall.

He rose like a great roc, leaping straight toward the left wall top.

"Stop him!" Guo Zi Lian roared, leaping to grab his ankle.

In midair, Li Ping'an twisted his waist, his legs spinning like a windmill.

Carefree Step "Ling Kong Xu Du".

Guo Zi Lian grasped at nothing.

Ba Lian Hanzi's spear thrust came again, aiming straight for his heart from behind.

Li Ping'an didn't look back, but swung his other hand.

Three copper coins shot through the air.

They weren't meant to strike a person.

They were aimed at a few broken tiles on the ground at the other end of the Alley.

Clink—clank!

The tiles shattered, the sound piercing the silent night.

Both instinctively froze.

In that brief pause, Li Ping'an had already vaulted onto the wall top.

"Stop!"

Guo Zi Lian drew his gun.

A 54‑style Handgun, its barrel a black void, aimed at the wall top.

Li Ping'an had already vanished behind the wall.

"Chase!"

Both leapt over the wall almost simultaneously.

Their movements were clean and crisp, clearly well‑trained.

But after they cleared the wall, a narrower Alley lay ahead.

It was empty.

Not even a ghostly silhouette.

"Damn it!" Ba Lian Hanzi cursed, "He runs faster than a rabbit!"

Guo Zi Lian's complexion turned iron‑blue.

He holstered the gun, crouched, and inspected the ground.

The dust in the Alley was thick.

Yet there wasn't even half a footprint.

"Saw a ghost," he muttered.

"Lao Zhao, what do we do?" Ba Lian Hanzi asked.

Guo Zi Lian—Lao Zhao stood up, brushing dust from his hands.

"Report back. This person... isn't ordinary."

He paused, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

"Earlier he had a chance to hurt us, yet he only ran. If those three copper coins had struck a person, at least one of us would have ended up flat on the ground."

Ba Lian Hanzi was startled, rubbing his cheek.

He then recalled that the coins had been aimed at the tiles.

"You mean... he held back?"

"Hmm," Lao Zhao nodded, "and his martial path... I think I've seen it somewhere..."

What?

"I can't explain it." Old Zhao shook his head. "But it's definitely an orthodox lineage, not some wild, unorthodox path. For someone like that, why would they be wearing a night cloak in the middle of the night?"

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the gravity in each other's eyes.

In the depths of the alley, within the shadows.

Li Ping'an pressed himself against the wall, holding his breath and focusing his mind.

He listened as their conversation faded into the distance.

He slowly exhaled a breath.

That was close just now.

If it weren't for the sound he made by striking tiles with copper coins to draw their attention, he might not have gotten away unscathed.

The square-faced man's fist, the scarred fellow's bayonet—both were killing techniques honed on the battlefield.

Simple, direct, deadly.

If he got entangled with them for long, he'd surely be the one to suffer.

Li Ping'an stepped out of the shadows, quickly took off his night cloak, and stashed it in the Spiritual Spring Space.

He changed into a plain gray cloth shirt.

He also wiped his face with a damp cloth, removing any sweat that might have lingered.

Only then did he walk out of the alley and turn onto the main street.

The sky was already lightening with dawn.

Early-rising sanitation workers began sweeping the streets, the swish-swish of their bamboo brooms echoing across the empty road.

Breakfast stalls were set up, coal stoves puffing blue smoke, the fragrance of fried dough sticks drifting far.

Li Ping'an blended into the growing crowd of early risers, appearing as an ordinary citizen.

Yet his mind kept replaying what had just happened.

Those two were definitely sent by Zhou Zhengwei.

Their skill, gear, and bearing—all marked them as top-notch military personnel.

Zhou Zhengwei has already begun to act.

He's watching the shopkeeper and planting secret sentries.

But why not tell him?

Is it because he doesn't trust him?

Or... is it to protect him?

Li Ping'an furrowed his brow.

Perhaps it's both.

Zhou Zhengwei's situation is probably more complicated than he thinks.

That list must be sent out as soon as possible.

But given the current situation, any rash move could alert the enemy.

The shopkeeper was startled tonight and will surely tighten his guard.

Those two soldiers didn't catch him tonight; after reporting back, Zhou Zhengwei will surely guess it was him.

By then...

Li Ping'an suddenly stopped in his tracks.

At the breakfast stall, he bought two fried dough sticks, wrapped in oil paper.

They were hot, burning his hands.

The stall owner was an old man, smiling warmly.

"Comrade, why are you up so early?"

"Mm, I couldn't sleep." Li Ping'an took the fried dough sticks and paid.

He turned and walked toward home.

He already had a plan in mind.

If Zhou Zhengwei guesses it's him, it might not be a bad thing.

At least, then neither side would have to keep guessing.

But going straight to see Zhou Zhengwei would be too risky.

The shopkeeper's people might also be watching Zhou Zhengwei.

He needed a way that was both safe and could convey information.

Li Ping'an took a bite of the fried dough stick.

Crispy outside, tender inside, full of oily fragrance.

A sudden idea flashed through his mind.

Those two...

Maybe they could be used.

When he returned to the siheyuan, it was already broad daylight.

In the west wing, Lin Xueqing was lighting the fire to cook.

Cooking smoke rose in thin wisps from the chimney.

"Ping'an?" Lin Xueqing saw him, a little surprised, "You went out this early?"

"I couldn't sleep, so I went for a walk." Li Ping'an shook the fried dough sticks in his hand, "I bought breakfast."

Li Yaozong rubbed his eyes as he came out of the room, saw the fried dough sticks, and his eyes lit up.

"Dad!"

"Go wash your face." Li Ping'an patted his son's head.

The family sat around the small table, eating a simple breakfast.

Fried dough sticks, thin porridge, pickled vegetables.

Lin Xueqing secretly glanced at her husband.

His expression was calm, as usual.

But deep in his eyes, there seemed to be a hint of something.

It was as if… he had let out a sigh of relief?

Or as if… he had become more solemn?

She didn't dare ask.

She just silently ladled out the porridge.

Li Ping'an ate his meal, but his mind was calculating.

Tonight, he still had to go out.

But not to the shopkeeper's place.

But rather…

He looked out the window.

Morning light spilled over the courtyard, sparrows chirped under the eaves.

A new day began.

But the struggle in the darkness never ceased.

In the distance, in an inconspicuous bungalow.

Lao Zhao and the scar-faced man were reporting.

The person sitting opposite, wearing a military overcoat, held a cigarette.

It was Zhou Zhengwei.

"Wearing a night cloak? High martial arts?" Zhou Zhengwei frowned after hearing the report.

"Yes." Lao Zhao nodded, "Even I and Xiao Chen together couldn't detain him. If he hadn't held back, we might have been injured."

Zhou Zhengwei fell silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"This Li Ping'an… really knows how to stir things up."

"Do you know him?" Xiao Chen—the scar-faced man—exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes." Zhou Zhengwei stubbed out his cigarette, "He's the former Security Department head I told you about, the one who was suspended."

Lao Zhao and Xiao Chen exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in the other's eyes.

"What was he doing at the shopkeeper's in the middle of the night?" Lao Zhao asked.

"What do you think?" Zhou Zhengwei countered.

Lao Zhao froze for a moment, then suddenly understood.

"Is he investigating the case?"

"Hmm." Zhou Zhengwei nodded, "And it seems he's found something."

He stood up, walked to the window, and watched the street gradually grow lively.

"This kid… has enough gall."

His tone held both worry and admiration.

"So what should we do now?" Xiao Chen asked.

"Wait." Zhou Zhengwei said, "Since he's shown himself, he'll definitely come looking for us. Just… we don't know how he'll do it."

He turned around, looking at his two subordinates.

"Keep watching the shopkeeper, but stay alert. Li Ping'an might still go there."

"If we run into him again…"

"Don't engage him again." Zhou Zhengwei waved his hand, "You're no match for him. If you do run into him, give him a break."

Lao Zhao and Xiao Chen were both a bit unwilling to accept that.

But military orders are absolute; they could only nod.

"Yes."

Zhou Zhengwei sat back down in his chair and lit a cigarette.

Amid the curling smoke, his gaze was deep.

Li Ping'an, Li Ping'an.

What exactly have you found out?

And at this moment.

Inside the siheyuan.

Li Ping'an had finished breakfast, holding a bamboo pole, preparing to go out fishing.

Lin Xueqing saw him to the door.

"Come back early."

"Mm."

Li Ping'an pushed his bicycle out of the alley.

Today, he's going to the Eternal Peace River.

But he's not really going fishing.

They are waiting.

Waiting for a chance that can get the message out.

On the river surface, the morning mist has not yet lifted.

The rippling light glitters like scattered broken gold.

In the distance, a fishing boat passes, the oars clacking.

Everything is unnaturally calm.

But Li Ping'an knows.

Beneath this calm, hidden currents are gathering.

Soon, they will raise terrifying waves.

They chose the old spot, cast the rod into the water.

The float drifts silently.

Their eyes watch the surface, but Divine Perception has already spread out.

Within a hundred‑meter radius, the wind and rustling grass are all within their grasp.

Will a fish bite today?

They wait.